Ardo: Establishing New Political Party is Best Way to Approach Transitional Politics

ChuksOkocha in Abuja

Convener of the League of Northern Democrats, and former aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Umar Ardo, has said establishing a new political party was the best way to approach the nation’s current transitional politics.

He also noted that in spite of visible disagreements among members of the emerging political coalition, he remained confident that the movement would eventually coalesce and succeed in challenging the status quo.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE News yesterday, Ardo spoke on the current state of Nigeria’s emerging political coalition.

Addressing the recent National Political Consultative Forum, where delegates from Jigawa State reportedly clashed over representation, Ardo admitted that, “The coalition has not even yet crystallised. They are already fighting among themselves over who should speak, over which political party they should form.”

Despite these early signs, he remained optimistic about the coalition’s future.

“I think the coalition will stand. At the formative stage, usually you have these hiccups. But over time, they will shape up. Basically, the coalition is in place, but it’s just divided on the basis of ideology. Well, when I say ideology, I mean approach—how to approach the politics,”  he said.

Ardo explained that the main concern was whether to merge with an existing party or establish a new one.

His words: “Predominant members and even leaders of the coalition are in support of fusing into an existing political party. Another group, which I belong to, are in support of registering a whole new political party.

“This is actually where things stand. And I don’t know what the ultimate decision will be by the leaders and key stakeholders and movers of the coalition.”

Advocating a fresh political platform, he stated, “We insist from our side that our approach of establishing a new political party by the coalition, the entire coalition, is the best way to approach this transitional politics. And it is, for me, almost certain of victory.”

Ardo cited voter engagement statistics to underline the need for a new party. “If we look at the statistics, you will see that nearly less than 38 per cent, they say, I think, voted the president who is in power.

“And less than 38 per cent of Nigerian registered voters actually went to the polls itself. So, it means that the vast majority of those that are interested in shaping their political life by going to register don’t go and register.”

Adeleke Not Defecting to Any Party, He Remains in PDP, Declares Spokesperson

YinkaKolawolein Osogbo

Osun State Governor, AdemolaAdeleke, is not defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to any political party, spokesperson of the governor, MallamOlawaleRasheed, has said.

According to him, the governor remained a bonafide member and leader of the PDP in Osun state.

Rasheed made the clarification while faulting media speculations on imminent defection of the governor to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The media speculation about likely or imminent defection is fake news. Governor Adeleke remains a member and leader of the PDP in Osun state.

“The visit by the Adeleke dynasty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a routine courtesy visit. Any reading of defection agenda into the visit is mere fake news,” the statement clarified.